International Women’s Day is a special day that has been observed for more than a century by people around the world. This day is dedicated to celebrating the achievements of women and raising awareness about the challenges that still need to be addressed. This year, there are a number of events planned to mark the day, including rallies, marches, and workshops.
How did it all start?
International Women’s Day began as a way to demand better working conditions and pay for women, as well as the right to vote. In 1908, over 15,000 women marched through New York City to make their voices heard. A year later, the Socialist Party of America designated the first National Woman’s Day.
Clara Zetkin, a communist activist and advocate for women’s rights, put forward the idea for an international day to celebrate women at an International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen in 1910. The 100 women who attended the conference voted unanimously in favour of the proposal.
International Women’s Day was first celebrated in 1911, when women in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland came together to demand change. This year, we’re celebrating the 111th anniversary of this momentous day.
International Women’s Day has been around for quite some time, and each year it seems to get bigger and better. In 1975, the United Nations officially started celebrating it, and over the years the themes have reflected the progress of women in society. In 1996, the first theme was “Celebrating the Past, Planning for the Future”. These days, people use International Women’s Day as an opportunity to reflect on the progress women have made, while also acknowledging that there is still a lot of work to be done.
Why is the 8th of march so significant?
Clara’s idea for International Women’s Day had no set date. It wasn’t formalised until a wartime strike in 1917 when Russian women demanded “bread and peace.” Four days into the strike, the tsar was forced to abdicate and the provisional Government granted women the right to vote. The strike began on 8 March, and this became the date that International Women’s Day is celebrated.
Why do people wear the colour purple?
The official website of International Women’s Day declares that purple, green, and white are the colours of IWD. Purple is representative of justice and dignity, green stands for hope, and white is representative of purity – although this concept is often met with controversy. These colours were adopted by the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) in the United Kingdom all the way back in 1908.
How is Women’s Day celebrated?
International Women’s Day is celebrated by different means in different parts of the world. In China, many women are given a half-day off work on 8 March, as advised by the State Council. In Russia, flower sales double during the three or four days around 8 March. And in Italy, International Women’s Day, or La Festa Della Donna, is celebrated by the giving of mimosa blossoms. The origin of this tradition is unclear but it is believed to have started in Rome after World War Two.
In the United States, March is Women’s History Month. Every year, a presidential proclamation is issued to honour the achievements of American women. This year, celebrations will look a little different because of the coronavirus, with virtual events expected to take place around the world. This event was organised by the UN.
Why do we need it?
This year has seen a worrying step back in the global fight for women’s rights. The resurgence of the Taliban in August has had a devastating impact on the lives of Afghan women – girls have been banned from receiving secondary education, the ministry for women’s affairs in the country has been disbanded, and many women have been told not to return to work.
In the UK, the tragic murder of Sarah Everard by a serving police officer has reignited debates around women’s safety. The global pandemic of the coronavirus continues to have a devastating impact on women’s rights. According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2021, the time needed to close the global gender gap has increased by a generation, from 99.5 years to 135.6 years.
According to a 2021 study by UN Women, almost one in two women (45%) reported experiencing some form of violence during the Covid-19 pandemic. This includes non-physical abuse, with verbal abuse and the denial of basic resources being the most commonly reported.
Despite concerns over the coronavirus, rallies and marches took place around the world to celebrate International Women’s Day 2021.
In Mexico, women’s groups turned metal fencing, erected to protect the National Palace, into an impromptu memorial for the victims of femicides. Meanwhile, women in Poland used their creativity and ingenuity to fight for their reproductive rights.
In the past few years, there has been progress – especially in female leadership. Kamala Harris became the first female, first black and first Asian-American US vice-president in 2021.
In the same year, history was made when four countries got their first female prime ministers or presidents. January 2022 saw Xiomara Castro become Honduras’ first female president.
In 2021, New Zealand became the first country to approve paid bereavement leave for women who have a miscarriage or stillbirth. This compassionate policy gives women and their partners the time they need to mourn their loss. While in 2020, Sudan became the last country in the world to criminalise female genital mutilation. This heinous act is now punishable by up to five years in prison.
What a whirlwind the #MeToo conversation has been! Speaking out against experiences of harassment and sexual assault, it has taken the world by storm. In January 2022, a university lecturer in Morocco was sentenced to two years in prison for indecent behaviour, sexual harassment and violence. Though the conversation began just a few years ago, it is now a global phenomenon.
This year has seen a lot of change when it comes to abortion laws around the world. For example, in February of 2022, Colombia decriminalized abortions within the first 24 weeks of pregnancy. However, in the United States, some states have been restricting abortion rights, with Texas banning procedures as early as six weeks into a pregnancy.
